Battery pack including a circuit interrupter

Abstract

A battery pack for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The battery pack comprises a battery housing, batteries positioned in the battery housing, and an interruption member. The battery housing includes electrical contacts configured to electrically couple the battery pack to the surgical instrument when the battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument. The interruption member is movable from a first position where the interruption member electrically disconnects at least one battery from another battery and a second position. The batteries are electrically connected to the surgical instrument when the interruption member is moved from the first position to the second position and the battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery pack for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said battery pack comprises:
 an outer housing; 
 electrical contacts configured to electrically couple said battery pack to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument; 
 a first pair of batteries; 
 a second pair of batteries; 
 an electrical connector configured to electrically connect said first pair of batteries and said second pair of batteries; and 
 an interruption member that prevents said electrical connector from electrically connecting said first pair of batteries and said second pair of batteries until said interruption member is displaced, wherein said electrical connector electrically connects said first pair of batteries and said second pair of batteries when said interruption member is displaced, wherein said interruption member is displaced prior to attaching said battery pack to the surgical instrument, and wherein said first pair of batteries and said second pair of batteries are electrically connected to the surgical instrument when said interruption member is displaced and said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein said battery pack is packaged in packaging, and wherein said interruption member is displaced when said battery pack is at least partially removed from said packaging. 
     
     
       3. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein said interruption member comprises a grippable tab extending from said battery pack. 
     
     
       4. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein said first pair of batteries and said second pair of batteries comprise CR123a batteries. 
     
     
       5. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said batteries is rechargeable. 
     
     
       6. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical connection between said first pair of batteries and said second pair of batteries is interrupted when said battery pack is detached from the surgical instrument. 
     
     
       7. A battery pack for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said battery pack comprises:
 a battery housing including electrical contacts configured to electrically couple said battery pack to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument; 
 batteries positioned in said battery housing; and 
 an interruption member movable from a first position where said interruption member electrically disconnects at least one said battery from another said battery and a second position where all of said batteries are electrically connected, wherein said interruption member is moved into said second position prior to attaching said battery pack to the surgical instrument, and wherein said batteries are electrically connected to the surgical instrument when said interruption member is in said second position and said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument. 
 
     
     
       8. The battery pack of  claim 7 , wherein said battery pack is packaged in packaging, and wherein said interruption member is moved from said first position to said second position when said battery pack is at least partially removed from said packaging. 
     
     
       9. The battery pack of  claim 7 , wherein said interruption member comprises a grippable tab extending from said battery pack. 
     
     
       10. The battery pack of  claim 7 , wherein said batteries comprise CR123a batteries. 
     
     
       11. The battery pack of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said batteries is rechargeable. 
     
     
       12. The battery pack of  claim 7 , wherein the electrical connection between said batteries is interrupted when said battery pack is detached from the surgical instrument. 
     
     
       13. A battery pack for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said battery pack comprises:
 a battery housing including electrical contacts configured to electrically couple said battery pack to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument; 
 batteries positioned in said battery housing; 
 an electrical circuit; and 
 a circuit interrupter movable from a first position where said circuit interrupter electrically disconnects at least one said battery from said electrical circuit and a second position where all of said batteries are electrically connected to said electrical circuit, wherein said circuit interrupter is moved into said second position prior to attaching said battery pack to the surgical instrument, wherein said batteries are electrically connected to the surgical instrument when said circuit interrupter is in said second position and said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument. 
 
     
     
       14. The battery pack of  claim 13 , wherein said battery pack is packaged in packaging, and wherein said circuit interrupter is moved from said first position to said second position when said battery pack is at least partially removed from said packaging. 
     
     
       15. The battery pack of  claim 13 , wherein said circuit interrupter comprises a grippable tab extending from said battery pack. 
     
     
       16. The battery pack of  claim 13 , wherein said batteries comprise CR123a batteries. 
     
     
       17. The battery pack of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said batteries is rechargeable. 
     
     
       18. The battery pack of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical connection between said electrical circuit and said batteries is interrupted when said battery pack is detached from the surgical instrument. 
     
     
       19. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
 a surgical instrument; and 
 a battery pack, comprising
 a battery housing including electrical contacts configured to electrically couple said battery pack to said surgical instrument when said battery pack is attached to said surgical instrument; 
 batteries positioned in said battery housing; and 
 an interruption member movable from a first position where said interruption member electrically disconnects at least one said battery from another said battery and a second position where all of said batteries are electrically connected, wherein said interruption member is moved into said second position prior to attaching said battery pack to said surgical instrument, and wherein said batteries are electrically connected to said surgical instrument when said interruption member is in said second position and said battery pack is attached to said surgical instrument. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The surgical instrument system of  claim 19 , wherein said battery pack is packaged in packaging, and wherein said interruption member is moved from said first position to said second position when said battery pack is at least partially removed from said packaging. 
     
     
       21. The surgical instrument system of  claim 19 , wherein said interruption member comprises a gripable tab extending from said battery pack. 
     
     
       22. A battery pack for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said battery pack comprises:
 an outer housing; 
 first electrical contacts configured to engage second electrical contacts of the surgical instrument when said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument; 
 a first plurality of battery cells; 
 a second plurality of battery cells; 
 an electrical connector configured to electrically connect said first battery cells and said second battery cells; and 
 an interruption member that prevents said electrical connector from electrically connecting said first battery cells and said second battery cells until said interruption member is displaced, wherein said electrical connector electrically connects said first battery cells and said second battery cells when said interruption member is displaced, wherein the battery pack is configurable in a plurality of states, and wherein the plurality of states comprises:
 an inert state where said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument and said interruption member is not displaced, wherein said first battery cells and said second battery cells are not electrically connected to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is in said inert state; and 
 an operating state where said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument and said interruption member is displaced, wherein said first battery cells and said second battery cells are electrically connected to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is in said operating state. 
 
 
     
     
       23. The battery pack of  claim 22 , wherein said interruption member comprises a gripable tab extending from said battery pack. 
     
     
       24. A battery pack for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said battery pack comprises:
 a battery housing including electrical contacts configured to electrically couple said battery pack to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument; 
 battery cells positioned in said battery housing; and 
 an interruption member movable from a first position where said interruption member electrically disconnects at least one battery cell from said battery cells and a second position where all of said battery cells are electrically connected, wherein said battery pack is configurable in a plurality of states, and wherein said plurality of states comprises:
 an inert state where said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument and said interruption member is in said first position, wherein said battery cells are not electrically connected to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is in said inert state; and 
 an operating state where said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument and said interruption member is in said second position, wherein said battery cells are electrically connected to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is in said operating state. 
 
 
     
     
       25. The battery pack of  claim 24 , wherein said interruption member comprises a gripable tab extending from said battery pack. 
     
     
       26. A battery pack for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said battery pack comprises:
 a battery housing including electrical contacts configured to electrically couple said battery pack to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument; 
 battery cells positioned in said battery housing; 
 an electrical circuit; and 
 a circuit interrupter movable from a first position where said circuit interrupter electrically disconnects at least one of said battery cells from said electrical circuit and a second position where all of said battery cells are electrically connected to said electrical circuit, wherein said battery pack is configurable in a plurality of states, and wherein said plurality of states comprises:
 an inert state where said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument and said circuit interrupter is in said first position, wherein said battery cells are not electrically connected to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is in said inert state; and 
 an operating state where said battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument and said circuit interrupter is in said second position, wherein said battery cells are electrically connected to the surgical instrument when said battery pack is in said operating state. 
 
 
     
     
       27. The battery pack of  claim 26 , wherein said circuit interrupter comprises a gripable tab extending from said battery pack.